ST. CHARLES, MO., July 23, 2013. . . Individuals with disabilities taking part in Community Living, Inc.’s Social Opportunities and Recreation (SOAR) summer camp recently got the chance to exercise their baseball skills inside T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon, as part of a special baseball camp hosted by the St. Charles County-based Stallions Baseball Club.
The camp was the brainchild of Stallions coach and SOAR summer camp staff member, Mike Rothermich. With the Stallions hosting a community outreach event each year, Rothermich came up with the idea to make the 2013 event a baseball camp for SOAR participants, using Stallions players as mentors. And through an existing partnership between the Stallions and T.R. Hughes Ballpark, the campers had the unique chance to play baseball in the home of the River City Rascals.
The day-long camp gave participants the chance to run the bases, work on batting and throwing techniques and get practice fielding ground balls. The special event concluded with a game, in which all 35 SOAR campers were able to take a turn at bat.
“This was a spectacular event,” said Kristen Paez, Director of CLI Family Services. “Parents stopped by to watch their kids participate, and some said their children would remember the day for the rest of their lives.”
The Stallions Baseball Club is a non-profit organization that gives high school baseball players the chance to continue playing ball during the summer. Based in St. Charles County, the club draws players from the Wentzville and Fort Zumwalt school districts, as well as Troy and private schools in the area.
“The Stallions organization believes in not only building baseball players, but also great men,” said Rothermich. “This camp was a great way for our players to give back to their community.”
CLI’s SOAR program serves youth ages 12-21 who are diagnosed with a developmental disability. The program offers after-school teen club, summer camp, and break camp. The program helps individuals build independence, confidence and social skills in a safe and supportive environment. Activities include field trips, outdoor recreation, crafts, games and more.
For more information on the baseball camp or CLI’s SOAR summer camp, individuals can visit Community Living’s website at www.cliservices.org, or call (636) 970-2800.
Enriching the lives of people with disabilities. This mission has guided Community Living, Inc. to be a premier provider of programs and services for people with disabilities in St. Charles County. Family Support Services merged with Community Living in 2010, and now the agency’s mission and programs reach over 800 individuals and their families. From children to seniors, Community Living provides people with disabilities the opportunity to learn, live, grow, and play in the community, which makes the community inclusive, diverse and a better place to live. For more information about Community Living, visit www.cliservices.org.
For more information, contact:
Christine Rutherford, Community Living, Inc., 636.970.2800